Example Hazard Analysis of NASA Laser

A power supply includes a dc motor, which charges a capacitor, and a fast discharge circuit applies the electrical pulse across the laser to excite the gas-laser media. Two Class 2 lasers are used in an oscillator-amplifier configuration, emitting laser light out through a 16 in. diameter Newtonian telescope out from the top of the 

System Safety Engineering and Risk Assessment A Practical Approach 

Various equipment supports the system. Instrumentation racks include computers, laser synchronization units, sensors, and other equipment used to control the experiment. The entire LIDAR setup is mounted on high-grade aluminum beams. 

A detailed hazard analysis was performed, following the same methodology as described in Section 5.4. The format used by NASA is slightly different from the one shown in Section 5.4. A column titled Hazard Risk Acceptance (HRA) prioritizes which hazards must be dispositioned first  

There are many more hazards in an experiment such as this one. However, it is worthwhile to focus on what is unique about the LIDAR experiment. In studying this experiment, it was important for NASA to go back and study in detail certain aspects of the design. Other safety analyses in this book will demonstrate how to conduct a detailed safety analysis of other systems, such as pressure or hazardous fluids and processes. 

---